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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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A solemn memorial service for the victims caught in the bombing was held at the central square of the capital.
To remember their sacrifice for a long time.
May the departed souls be happy in heaven.
A girl dressed in pure white vestments recited the prayer in a heavy voice.
The sound of crying flowed from various places.
They must be people who lost their loved ones in the catastrophe.
Unable to hold back their wails, the crowds that had gathered like clouds were engulfed in immense sorrow.
Too many people had died.
I let out a deep sigh as I looked at the scene of the sacred memorial service.
“Don’t blame yourself. Didn’t you prevent the catastrophe from expanding thanks to your efforts?”
“……”
The golden-haired princess spoke.
Ludmilla, who was overseeing the memorial service along with Zebeline, was wearing monochromatic mourning clothes.
The princess, whose face was filled with sorrow, paid her respects to the tragically sacrificed citizens and mourned.
After the memorial service-
Zebeline entrusted the cleanup to the deputy priests and approached me.
“Thank you for accepting my request.”
“No, it was something I would readily do.”
There was a high risk of a catastrophe comparable to the bombing occurring at the memorial service, where numerous crowds had gathered.
That’s why I readily accepted Zebeline’s proposal to serve as a guard. I was planning to attend the memorial service anyway, following Ludmilla.
Contrary to concerns, the memorial service ended without incident.
I let out a sigh of relief as I watched the slowly dispersing crowds.
“I kept sweating even while reciting the prayer, worried that a terrible accident might occur during the memorial service.”
Zebeline leaned against me, acting like a pitiful heroine.
I could tell it was an act from the soft smile on her lips.
She has a strong heart.
Zebeline boasted superhuman courage.
It was the exact opposite of the timid appearance of the nobles who had attended the memorial service and kept looking around.
Naturally, the White Dragon of the Holy Kingdom wouldn’t be afraid of villains.
Although not as much as Ludmilla, who had proven herself invincible through numerous achievements and risen to become one of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States, Zebeline must also be a formidable powerhouse.
At least she wouldn’t be threatened by some random thugs.
“Saintess, your jokes are going too far. Aren’t there numerous troops guarding you?”
“Well, that’s just a figure of speech.”
The Red Dragon and the White Dragon.
The Imperial Guard was dispatched by the imperial family.
And the Holy Knights were in charge of escorting the saintess and the envoy.
No matter how unconventional their tactics were, no force would dare to raid the memorial service.
If all the troops deployed for protection were combined, it would surpass the military power of a single nation.
Zebeline responded to Ludmilla’s point with a pout.
“Anyway, isn’t it fortunate that there was no further damage?”
“You are right about that.”
The turbulent political situation caused by the bombing in the capital was gradually regaining stability.
It was because the Valtarian Empire had swiftly responded, and the saintess from the Holy Kingdom had comforted the citizens, soothing the atmosphere tainted by fear.
But we couldn’t let our guard down.
This calm might be the “calm before the storm.”
“I have something to discuss with you for a moment… Do you have time?”
“Then, if it’s alright, may I bring Rue along? She must be whining about being bored at home alone by now.”
“Hoho, I don’t mind.”
“Understood.”
I immediately nodded my head, as I often had tea time under the pretext of discussing with Ludmilla.
Sweet desserts would be served during tea time, so it would be perfect to appease the pouting fairy.
And Ludmilla reluctantly invited Zebeline to tea time as well.
In fact, I’d prefer it if you didn’t come.
But I don’t want to give the impression of being stingy, so I’ll offer it as a formality.
To show her true feelings to that extent.
I broke out in a cold sweat at the sight of Ludmilla overtly expressing her discomfort. I was afraid that a new nerve war would break out.
“I appreciate the invitation, but I have a schedule with the bishops. Unfortunately, I’ll have to postpone it for another time.”
“That’s a pity, I hoped the saintess would join us.”
It was a conversation that lacked even a shred of sincerity.
It’s scary.
I didn’t know that women’s nerve wars could be this scary.
The relationship between Ludmilla and Zebeline was like a powder keg that could explode at any moment.
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Elizaveta, who had been fiercely refusing a new engagement after being forced into annulment by her fiancé Maximilian, finally reluctantly accepted it conditionally.
The marriage talks had resumed.
As soon as he heard the news, Emperor Barbarossa jumped with joy.
Barbarossa, who had been tossing and turning at night, worried that his youngest daughter, whom he had raised like a golden child, might also become an old bachelorette, expressed his enthusiastic welcome.
He then declared that he would spare no support for his youngest daughter’s new engagement.
“Then who is Princess Elizaveta’s new fiancé?”
“We are currently selecting.”
As soon as I arrived at the reception room with Rue, whose lips were pouting, Ludmilla brought up the main topic.
The engagement of the Third Princess.
Currently, the imperial family was urgently proceeding with Elizaveta’s marriage talks.
The sons of prestigious families selected as candidates through strict screening and verification amounted to fifteen.
In the end, the final candidate would be chosen from among them.
As expected of the assessment to determine the fiancé of the Platinum Princess, it was very intense.
“Phew… Actually, I recommended you first as Liza’s new fiancé.”
“You mean me?”
I couldn’t hide my surprise at Ludmilla’s words tinged with lamentation.
Me?
No, wait, what? Why me…
I only have a brief acquaintance with Elizaveta.
Isn’t it lacking in many ways to present me as a replacement for Maximilian?
Of course, the same goes for the newly selected suitors.
The Valtarian Imperial Family had already declared a severance with the Hohenberc family.
Therefore, it was impossible to bring the Hohenberc family back in.
Moreover, the numerous prestigious families and suitors selected as candidates or rejected would not accept such irrationality.
“I think His Majesty is rushing too much. Right now, it’s a state of emergency. There will be many difficulties in proceeding with the marriage talks.”
“……”
Ludmilla remained silent.
She turned her head for a moment.
My gaze met Rue’s, who was munching on cake beside me.
“……”
“……”
Rue and I, silently exchanging glances, simultaneously looked at Ludmilla.
We immediately understood the reason why the ruler of the Valtarian Empire, who boasted an arrogant sense of self-importance, was rushing the marriage talks as if being chased by something.
That reason was right in front of us.
By rushing the marriage talks, he hoped to secure a suitable husband for his youngest daughter before she passed the prime age for marriage in their society.
Lest she end up like Ludmilla.
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While Edanant and Rue were being punished by an angry Ludmilla,
On the other hand, Zebeline had finished a meeting with the priests dispatched to the empire and was taking a short break.
‘Damn those old geezers… I said it was just a meeting, so why do they keep sticking around?’
She made a disgusted expression as she recalled the fanatical appearance of the clergy who had clung to her, begging and pleading for the saintess’ noble blessing.
There was some reason behind the actions of the clergy, who were desperately clinging to the opportunity to meet the First Saintess, who had received the blessing of the White Dragon.
However, Zebeline dismissed the clergy’s behavior as merely blind faith.
“Saintess.”
“Speak, Sir Franz.”
The holy knight in charge of her escort spoke.
In response, Zebeline raised the teacup filled with milk tea and allowed him to speak.
“Do you really intend to grant the Yellow Star Aldebaran to Young Master Edanant?”
“Do you think I made an empty promise?”
Franz and the other holy knights escorting Zebeline showed stiff expressions.
They expressed concern about the saintess’ decision to readily grant ownership of the holy sword.
I knew this would happen.
What can I expect from you guys who are as stubborn as the bishops?
Zebeline sighed deeply while pressing her temple.
“But Young Master Edanant is not from the Holy Kingdom. He hasn’t even received baptism. How can you entrust Aldebaran to such a person? Of course, Maximilian wasn’t from the Holy Kingdom either, but at least he received baptism!”
“……”
The public opinion in the Holy Kingdom would be the same.
They would argue that the First Saintess had unilaterally delegated the ownership of Aldebaran.
Should I postpone my return?
A headache came on as I imagined the bishops swarming like bees.
“The evil forces whose whereabouts have been unclear have started to move again. They must be plotting the ascension of evil. Now is the time to prepare the forces to counter it.”
The ultimate goal is to destroy the noble teachings of the Earth mother, the only recognized religion on the continent, and create a lawless inferno where only lawlessness and evil exist.
That is the ascension of evil.
The Demon King’s army and the worshippers, who had long been oppressed by the Valtarian Empire and the Gael Holy Kingdom, which revered the Earth mother, had been gritting their teeth and preparing for the downfall of the one true god.
They had constantly threatened the world with the ambition to fill the void with their own god after bringing down the faith in the one true god.
“Saintess!”
Zebeline was explaining the gravity of the situation to the holy knights,
And as if to prove it, urgent news arrived.
“Urgent news has arrived from the Holy Kingdom. It is said that a heretic who worships a cult has appeared in the Pug Kingdom.”
Heretic.
A cult worshiper.
A monster who had received a blessing from a forgotten god had appeared.
Blessing users who had received vast powers into their bodies boasted transcendent abilities.
Even in the weakest cases, they could instantly turn a city into a bloody battlefield.
That’s why the holy knights turned pale and swallowed their saliva as soon as they received the urgent news.
“The Pug Kingdom… That’s the homeland of the Sword Saint Madbei.”
The Sword Saint Madbei, who had created a blood calamity with the corpses of numerous demons and cult followers.
They must have deployed the heretic to take revenge on him.
It was a threat incomparable to the criminals who had raided the capital.
Zebeline let out a short sigh and rose from her seat.
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Edan(Warmonger) would also be considered a heretic but his blessing is pretty dope though, so yeah…